Annual Inter-Island Walk Takes Place Today

Around 50 people aged between 14 and 75 will walk between the islands today to raise money for charities including the RNLI.

The event, making the most of the autumn equinox low tides, starts at Lower Town on St Martin’s at midday.

Two thirds of this year’s entrants are visitors and organiser Clare Lewis says many have come over specially.

Participants had to register beforehand because of insurance restrictions. They could have taken 100 entrants but Clare says numbers are always lower on a weekday and today’s turnout is similar to last year.

They can’t exceed 100 people because this wouldn’t allow walkers to get through the two-and-a-half hour route safely.

This year, there will be 15 volunteers acting as stewards on land and in safety boats.

As the walkers will pass through tidal areas, the stewards will monitor them closely to make sure they reach check-points at predetermined times – any that are late will be pulled out of the walk for safety.

Inter-island walk organiser, Clare Lewis

There is also a five-foot minimum height requirement.

They will be taking a well-established route that starts on St Martin’s, across to Samson, then back up the channel, touching Bryher, before finishing on Tresco.

Clare told us jokingly that her favourite moment of the walk is when it is all over and everyone is back on dry land!

After the walk, at 5pm, 15 people will swim from Carn Near to St Mary’s Quay although Clare says they’re keeping a close eye on the weather and that event may be re-routed within Tresco’s waters if the winds strengthen by then.

Scilly Lowtide Challenge Called Off

The Scilly Lowtide Adventure Challenge, or SLAC, due to take place tomorrow, has been cancelled.

Organiser, Nick Lishman says the event didn’t manage to attract the required number of participants although he says an unofficial challenge, with around six people taking part, is still likely to go ahead.

The SLAC was devised as new race in which teams of two run, cycle, swim and kayak on and between the islands during the lowest spring tides of the year.

Nick said they’re looking into the possibility of running the event next September, which will allow them to plan well ahead, although it will depend on the extent of next year’s low tide.